Interview with Stephanie Haefner

Stephanie is a fellow author at Lyrical Press. Her book, A Bitch Named Karma, just came out yesterday! To buy it, click here.

1. How did you come up with the title, "A Bitch Named Karma?"

The working title was actually "Not Another Chick Lit Novel" because the original concept was that all the cliches of the chick lit genre all happen to this writer...kinda like "Not Another _____ Movie" (add in random adjective). The change came when I was on my eightieth rewrite of my query letter. Karma had always been a theme in the book and I had a line in the query that said something like "Can Lexi (my main character) grab her life back from this bitch named karma?" At that point, I really wasn't too keen on the title anymore and when I'd read the query for my writers group, one of the members said "Hey, I like 'A Bitch Named Karma' for the title!" And that was it. I loved it and went back and reinforced the karma theme and added her in as an actual character.

2. Do you believe in Karma?

I've done a lot of research on Karma and the Wiccan rede of "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will." I truly believe in living your life by treating others as you would want to be treated. You can't expect good things to happen to you if you disrespect others. I try every day to do the right thing and teach my kids that as well.

3. If you could describe your book in three words, what would they be? Why?

Hmmmm, let's see!

Sassy- Because Lexi is the kind of person who says what's on her mind and makes no excuses. She's comfortable in her own skin. She's sensual and doesn't mind showing that off and being adventurous. She fights for what she believes in and doesn't take crap from anyone.

Love- There are so many different forms of love in this book. Love between lovers, love between friends, love between mother and child, love between siblings, love that you never knew you even wanted `til you had it and then knew you couldn't live without it. My MC, Lexi, starts with one idea of love and learns there are so many levels of love and each and every one is so important.

Journey- Lexi makes such a transformation in this book, it's hard to believe she is the same women, who at the beginning was completely self-centered. She experiences every emotion and pulls the reader along with her. From joy and jubilation through the deepest pit of despair and hopelessness...she matures along the way and finds herself somewhere she never thought she wanted to be and wouldn't trade it for anything.

4. How do your life experiences influence your writing?

When I write about lovers, I think of my husband and when we met and how amazing it felt to find that one person who really truly completes you. Most of the lovers in my stories meet and fall in love fast, cause that's how it happened for me. And here we are fifteen years later!! Then there's my girlfriends. A significant other is one thing, but the bonds between women...completely different! We have our little group and we've been through everything together. Support and tears, hugs and smiles. I've held all their babies in the hospital and been there when they needed a ear to listen. I pull from my strong friendships when I write about women and their relationships.

5. I know you've published some Chicken Soup for the Soul stories, tell us about those!

The first was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom Edition and it's an essay I wrote about my mom, well, my step-mom. It was something I wrote, just because, no purpose. My biological mother left when I was three and my dad remarried shortly after that. The woman he married stepped into the role of wife and mother on the same day and never once treated me like I wasn't her child. She showed me what true compassion is and that biology does not make someone a mother. That right has to be earned.

The second will hopefully be included in an upcoming edition about families and the wacky things they do! My essay made it to the final round and I'm still waiting to hear if I made it in! (But I'm pretty sure almost all that make it this far make it into the book!) This story is a little more light-hearted, about my dad this time! He used to have this "Evil Eye" that he gave the teen boys and scared them away from me!

6. What are you currently working on?

Oh my...the list goes on!! I am in the process of editing my novelette titled "Soap Dreams" and hope to get that submitted to my editor soon and hopefully a contract soon after that! I have started the sequel to "A Bitch Named Karma", which I titled "Karma Kameleon." And soon I'll be starting the official editing phase for my next book, "Paradise Cove", which was just contracted by Lyrical Press, due out April 2011!

Thanks for the interview, Stephanie! Good luck with your new release!
You can visit Stephanie's blog here.

Interview with Donna Hatch

**I'm looking for more authors to interview, so please leave a comment below if you are interested and we haven't already talked about it**

Donna Hatch writes Regency Romance for The Wild Rose Press and Fantasy. I reviewed her short story, Troubled Hearts, on my review blog here.

1. Your latest novel, Queen in Exile, came out on April 1st. (I can't wait to read it!) How is it different than your other books?

It's a fantasy, so it's a totally different world. My other books are Regencies, which are based on truth, sprinkled with fantasy. But they both involve world-building and a great deal of research, the Regencies more so than the fantasy, of course.


2. I love to interview other fantasy/romance authors like myself! Why did you choose the genre of fantasy romance? Or did it choose you?

It chose me. Fantasy has always been a favorite genre to read, dating way back to my junior high and high school days. I was one of those geeks who played Dungeons and Dragons and I'm also a rabid Tolkien fan. Queen in Exile is actually a many times over revised version of a fantasy I wrote back in high school.


3. With six children, how do you find time to write? Do any of them read your stories?

I write mostly at night when they are bed, but now that they are all in school, I write in the morning while they're gone before I have to go to my day job. My oldest daughter, who's a teen, has read them all. Some of them more than once. She helps proof them for me. She's still looking for her own Kai...


4. What was the biggest challenge for you to write? How did you overcome it?

Being objective is a real challenge. I think my manuscripts as my babies and they are all beautiful to me. It's hard to know what scenes to cut and what scenes to change. I do a real deep editing, several times, before I send in a manuscript. This requires a lot of objectivity to examine every chapter, every paragraph, every word, to determine what needs to be changed. I wouldn't be able to do it without the help of my wonderful critique partners.


5. Here's the zany question: How do you feel about unicorns? I'd love to write an entire novel about them, but they seem to be old news these days.

What's not to love about them! They'd take me back to my childhood.

Thank you for the interview!!! Queen in Exile is available at Costco and Amazon, and your local bookstore.

Here is Donna's Website.

Thank you, Donna! I can't wait to read it.

And here's Queen in Exile on Amazon.

Interview and Giveaway/Another Writing Contest!

I'm being interviewed by a fellow author at Lyrical Press here. I'm giving away an ebook of my Seasons of Fantasy Series, Winter Queen to a lucky commenter.

Also, The Absent Willow Review
is having a writing contest with cash prizes.



What is that? A manfly? An alien? Yikes!!!

Here are the guidelines:

Must be in the Horror, Fantasy, or Science Fiction genre
Word restrictions: All entries must be between 1,500 – 6,000 words.
Entry fee: $10 for each entry (U.S. funds only). Payment can be made via PayPal or check (make checks payable to Absent Willow Publishing, LLC).
Mailed Entries must be addressed to: Absent Willow Publishing Contest, PO Box 66, Rochester NH, 03866.
Mailed Entries must include entry form and submission fee
Manuscripts will not be returned
Entries must be previously unpublished

Anyone going to enter?

Interview with Mindflights Submissions Editor and Author, Angie Lofthouse

Angie Lofthouse is with us today, talking about submissions, her short stories, and her writing journey. She's giving away a free issue of Mindflights print magazine #5 to a lucky commenter.

1. You've written several prize winning short stories and I've loved every one that I've read! Tell us about how long you've been writing and your body of work.

Thanks, Aubrie. I'm glad you've enjoyed my stories. I started writing sci-fi and fantasy in 1994, when my oldest child was a year old. In 2003, my first published story, "Blessing Stone," appeared in NFG magazine. Yep, it took nine long years to get something published. I'm nothing if not determined. Since then, I've published a dozen short pieces, ranging from short story to novella length, in a variety of print and online magazines. Since many of them are now out of print, I'm offering them to readers for free on my blog.

2. How did you get involved as an editor at Mindflights?

I published several stories in Amazing Journeys magazines, and became active on the bulletin boards there. In 2005, another Amazing Journeys author, Bill Snodgrass, approached me and asked if I'd be interested in being an assistant editor for a magazine he was starting up. That sounded like a fun opportunity, so I grabbed it, and I'm so glad I did. I started out with The Sword Review, which later merged with Dragons, Knights, and Angels magazine to become Mindflights. I enjoy working with Selena Thomason and the other Mindflights editors. Reading and judging submissions has done amazing things for my own writing.

3. What are some of the qualities in the stories that Mindflights looks for in submissions?

At Mindflights, we are looking for stories that are entertaining, enlightening and uplifting. We want stories that are family friendly and that uphold (or at least do not denigrate) Christian values. Beyond that, we like stories with great characters, engaging plots and well-written prose. We also accept poetry, though I am not heavily involved in the poetry end of things.

4. Tell us about your Work In Progress!

After a decade of writing short fiction, I finally decided last year that I could try a novel again. I wrote my first novel, Defenders of the Covenant, when I was pregnant with my third child, and put it away for ten years before pulling it back out, revising it, and falling in love with it again. My WIP is a sequel to that first novel. It's called The Ransomed Returning, and I am almost finished! Both novels are science fiction adventures with a religious base. I am excited to finish another novel, if just to prove to myself that I can do it.

5. Here's the zany question: If you could be in any of your stories, which one would you be in? What character would you be?

Wow. That's a tough one I have "lived" in all my stories for a time while writing them. I think I would be Tiann Woodland in "Brierly's Lilies." She gets to have a cockatrice for a pet. How cool would that be? (You can read "Brierly's Lilies" on my blog if you're interested.)

Thanks for the interview, Aubrie. I'd be happy to answer any questions in the comments.

Please comment below for a chance to win a copy of Mindflights issue #5! Here's their website.

And here is Angie's wonderful blog.

Author Interview and Giveaway

Today's Interview is with Romance/Fantasy author, Nicole Zoltak. You can be entered in a drawing to win one of her ebooks if you leave a comment below this post and say which book you want: Woman of Honor or Knight of Glory.

*** Remember, my questions are to help other authors with the writing process as well as intrigue readers so enjoy!***

1. Where did you get the idea to write a book about female knights?

I love everything that involves knights and chivalry, their honor and goodness. Yes, I know not all knights were heroes, but I write romances and I romanticize the time period.

Anyhow, I read everything I can about the Middle Ages and knights. Throughout my research, I wondered if there were any females knights, knowing how women were treated back then. To my surprise, there had been an entire order of female knights – the Order of the Hatchet in Catalonia. These brave women protected their town from Moor attack when the men had been away.

These brave women gave my the inspiration to write about a female would-be knight who pled her case before the king, citing the Order.

2. How has your life experiences shaped you as a writer?

Although I often set my story in historical or even fantasy-type settings, I try to inject as much realism as I can into my stories. Falling in love and getting married are two he experiences that have definitely shaped me as a writer, I almost always inject some kind of romance into my stories! And when you think about the fact that I married the first boy I ever kissed and that we had a Renaissance-themed wedding, my love life does resemble something from a book. For years, I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a story about Lady Nicole falling in love with the dashing Sir Todd…. Wouldn’t it be fitting to have one of our wedding pictures as the cover?

3. I loved your first book, Woman of Honor. Now tell us about the second installment, Knight of Glory.
***You can read my review of Woman of Honor Here***
Knight of Glory picks up immediately after the events in Woman of Honor.

Sir Geoffrey, along with some companions, has been sent away from Arnhem, entrusted by Queen Aislinn for a special mission, and has to leave behind the mysterious lady Celestia. On his journey, he uncovers seeds of a sinister plot, learns a horrible secret, and makes a new friend in exile Jenanna.

Their mission completed, Geoffrey and his companions rush to two different kingdoms to ask for aid. Danger and betrayal lurks around every corner, and even allies have secrets that could prove deadly. Geoffrey's feelings for Celestia grow and wane. After learning some of Celestia's secrets, he begins to have second thoughts about his love for her and is even drawn to Jenanna

Rumors abound that the Speicans have enlisted a mage of their own, to work unspeakable, forbidden magic. The war between Speica and Arnhem has just begun. Will Geoffrey survive the battle to live another day and discover which woman he truly loves?


Woman of Honor focused more on the historical than Knight of Glory, which has a much more fantasy feel to it. Several new races are introduced. There’s plenty of action, adventure, love, heartache, battles, secrets, deceit…. There’s something for everyone!

4. You also write short stories! Are any of your short stories coming out this year? How do you decide which anthologies to submit work to?

A Squire’s Love, a short story based on a minor character in Knight of Glory, just came out in February in the Classic Romance Revival’s first anthology, The Cupid Diaries – Moments in Time. Melpomene & Thalia Sittin’ in a Tree is a short romance story about two authors and their muses which is a part of the Be Mused: an A-MUSE-ing Anthology, will be available April 2010. Also, Beauty is Only Fin Deep will come out later this year in Mertales.

I basically just keep an open eye out for anthology call for submissions and if the muse strikes me (which it usually does!) I’ll write a piece for it. Lately, I received some rejections that mention that the stories were short-listed. So they were good stories, they just didn’t fit well with what they were looking for for that particular anthology. I’m trying to find homes for those stories in the magazine marketplace. So we’ll have to see how that goes.

5. Here is the fun and zany question: If you could meet any of your characters in real life, who would it be and why? What would you say to them?

Definitely Aislinn. She’s such a strong-willed person who knows what she wants and how to get it. Honestly, I look up to her. She never backs down from a fight, even to the point of being pigheaded. But she’s a wonderful person with a heart full of gold.

I would ask Aislinn how she likes being Queen. She never seemed to like the courtly aspect of living in the castle and now she has no choice in the matter. For one thing, knowing the answer will make future books set in this world easier to write!

***Remember to leave a comment to be entered to win!***

Interview with Niteblade Editor and Author Rhonda Parrish

Rhonda Parrish is the submissions editor at Niteblade Magazine, an online horror and fantasy magazine. She's just published her first book, Shades of Green, over at Sam's Dot Publishing and I'm so excited to interview her!

1. You've been writing and editing for awhile now. Has your writing changed since you began your journey? If so, how?

Absolutely, my writing has changed, and thank goodness for that. It wasn't that long ago that I used to use the words 'then' and 'than' interchangeably. Seriously. I wish I were joking. I didn't have a clue what active voice meant and was in love with ellipses. Not only was I in love with them, for some reason I seemed to think if I used more dots it would indicate a longer pause. Again, I'm not joking.

I shudder when I think about (or when I'm feeling particularly masochistic, read) my old stuff but I'm getting better. If I look back at how far I've come, it gives me hope about how much I can still improve.

2. What are you favorite subjects to write about? Is there any subject that you would never write about?

This question really stumped me. So much so that I even asked the people most familiar with my work if they'd noticed a strong theme or subject I returned to over and over again. They hadn't, and neither have I. If I had to try and pick something I went back to the most, I think it would be the uncanny…and Aphanasia. The latter isn't a subject though, but a setting I enjoy.

3. Do you find that the genres you write are also the genres that you enjoy reading?

Yes, but not exclusively. I don't tend to write "literary" (for lack of a better word) works, historical fiction or comedy, but I've been known to enjoy reading them. I do read an awful lot of fantasy and horror stuff too though (which is what I primarily write). To some extent I think you really have to read the genre you are writing in.

4. What do you do when you get a writing block? Do you have any advice for us authors?

It depends on the block. I never feel like I lack for stories to write or ideas, and my biggest block to writing is willpower. Finding the will and the focus to sit down and do it. That is my biggest obstacle. If, however, you mean what do I do when I'm stuck within a story, I find getting away from it for a while helps. If I go walk the dog it frees up my mind to play with the plot and figure out how to fix my problem, and a hot bath has been known to undo more than a few plot knots for me. If that doesn't work venting to my best friend (also a writer) occasionally helps, as does brainstorming and bouncing ideas off my husband.

5. You're also the editor for Niteblade. Can you tell us a tip on submitting? What makes a story stand out?

Read the submission guidelines. Seriously. Can I say it again? Read the submission guidelines. I will know if you haven't. I really will and that handicaps your story. In fact, in some cases it will ensure that I reject your submission without reading it at all.

As for what makes a story stand out in a good way, it can be any number of things. Three dimensional characters I care about, fantastic description or an engaging plot. If you've got a combination of those things you're gold, but even one of them can sometimes be enough to make the story one that has me saying 'I have got to publish this!'.

6. Tell us about your new book, Shades of Green.



Shades of Green is a fantasy novelette set in Aphanasia. It's about a swamp elf named Z'thandra. Z'thandra is the last of her kind and she lives with the Reptar, a race of lizard-people who resent her presence in their village and make very little attempt to hide it. One day Z'thandra meets a human out in the swamp, the first she's ever seen. What happens next, as they say in hooks and blurbs, will turn her life upside down and affect the Reptar race for generations.

Dun dun dun!

At its heart I think it is a somewhat unconventional love story. I really look forward to hearing what readers and reviewers thing. Well, I look forward to it with the appropriate amount of nerves and trepidation.

I have a page dedicated to Shades of Green at my website (http://www.rhondaparrish.com/publications/shades-of-green ). There you can see the cover, ordering information and read the first chapter.

You can read my review of Shades of Green here! I loved it.

Thank you, Rhonda! Your answers are not only interesting, but will help all of us authors out there with writing and submitting.

Interview and Giveaway!

Today's interview is with Lisa Rusczyk, author of Sam the Night Person and Full Moon in December. I absolutely loved Full Moon in December. You can read my review of it here. Now, my questions are designed to get to the know the author, but also to learn more about the writing and publishing process. If you leave a comment, you will be entered into a drawing to win her ebook, Sam the Night Person! Click here to buy it.

Enjoy!

Aubrie, "Your writing is very interesting and unique, crossing genres between fantasy and literary fiction! Where did you get the idea for "a night person?"

Lisa, "I spend a lot of time daydreaming and came up with night people one night when I had really bad insomnia."

Aubrie, "Do you have any advice for us writers on how to choose an e-publisher? How and why did you choose Club Lighthouse Publishing?"

Lisa, "I went to Piers Anthony's epublishing list on his Web site and checked them all out. I queried the ones I thought would be a good fit for the book I wanted to publish. I was thrilled when Club Lighthouse agreed to publish it. I love epublishing because of the freedom that comes with it. My editor let me use my fiance and my sister-in-law's art for the covers and she didn't ask me to do any revisions. Working with her is like working with a friend and she always gets back to my questions with a great attitude."

Aubrie, "How do you balance writing with all the other things going on in your life?"

Lisa, "I work from home as a freelance writer so I have a lot of time. Lately, I haven't been getting much fiction writing done. Not sure why. One of those lazy times, I guess. I'm determined to have the next book in the night person series done in the next few months, though, so I need to get working."

Aubrie, "Tell us about Sam the Night Person and your series!"

Lisa, "Sam the Night Person is about Sam and Azzy, a couple who both have special magical powers. The story is about how they stop a man from going after Azzy out of revenge for something Sam may or may not have done. The second book continues with Sam in another story as he comes to terms with what happened in the first book. The third book brings in new characters, like the second book, and a new obstacle must be overcome. These books are very fun to write."

Aubrie, "Here's the zany question: If you could write about anything you wanted to without worrying about everyone else's opinion, (agents, editors, readers, etc) what would you write about? (for me, it would be unicorns and lots of them!)"

Lisa, "Hmm... Probably a cat detective story. Like a little tabby who investigates crimes in the neighborhood. I love talking cats!"

Thanks for answering my questions, Lisa! Now, if you want to win Lisa's ebook, all you have to do is comment below!

Interview Schedule

Okay, I've combined the comments from my LJ and Blogger accounts and come up with the following interview schedule. My questions are designed not only to learn about the author, but learn from the author. Their answers will help us all on the journey of writing!

Feb.
Lisa Rusczyk, author of "Sam the Night Person," Club Lighthouse Publishing.
Rhonda Parrish, author of "Shades of Green," and Editor of Niteblade.

March
Nicole Zoltak, author of "Knight of Glory," Desert Breeze Publishing.

April
Angie Lofthouse, author of several short stories and editor of Mindflights.

July
Stephanie Haefner, author of "A Bitch Named Carma," Lyrical Press
Amy Allgeyer Cook, author

TBA Interviews:
Christine Rains
Cherie Reich, author of "Once Upon a December Nightmare"
Tara McLlendon

I still have spots for May and June if there are other takers out there. All you need to do is be a follower of this blog!